ch. ix] Valuation and Purchase of Grass Seeds 167 



It may be pointed out however that the only sound basis for 

 comparing the cost of the seed of different species is to calculate 

 the cost of a given number — say one million — of pure and ger- 

 minating seeds of each kind. This is so because of the widely 

 different numbers of seeds weighing one pound in the case of 

 different species, and also because of the varying quality of 

 samples. For high-class samples of good bushel weight the price 

 per million germinating seeds may be found as follows : 

 1 Total No. of seeds per pound x Real Value 



ioo 



= Number of pure and germinating seeds per pound 



, Price per pound (in pence) 



Millions of pure and germinating seeds per pound 

 gives the cost per million germinating seeds. 



For example, a sample of Meadow Foxtail seed having a "real 

 value" of 80 per cent, costs say Is. 6d. per pound. The number of 

 pure and germinating seeds per pound will be 



m000x80 = 400<000 



and the cost per million germinating seeds will be 



- , .„. = 45 pence or 3s. 9d. 

 0-4 million r 



The following are useful rules for seed purchasers : 



1. Buy each species required in a separate parcel. 



2. Purchase by weight — not by measure — even if the bushel 

 weight is given. 



3. Insist upon a guarantee as to genuineness, purity, and 

 germination from the seedsman. 



4. Submit carefully drawn samples to a recognised botanist, 

 or better still to a properly equipped seed-testing station, for a 

 report upon the " real value." 



5. Take special notice of the nature of the impurities present. 

 If they consist oj such land-fouling weeds as Wild Carrot, Docks, 

 Thistles, Yorkshire Fog, Slender Foxtail, etc. even to the extent 

 of one per cent, it is unwise to sow the seed. 



1 The approximate total number of seeds per pound in samples of good quality 

 is given in Table I, page 174. 



